E/2001/29 E/CN.17/2001/19 United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Report on the ninth session (5 May 2000 and 16-27 April 2001) Economic and Social Council Official Records, 2001 Supplement No. 9 Economic and Social Council Official Records, 2001 Supplement No. 9 Commission on Sustainable Development Report on the ninth session (5 May 2000 and 16-27 April 2001) United Nations • New York, 2001 E/2001/29 E/CN.17/2001/19 Note Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. ISSN 1020-3559 Contents Chapter Page I. Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social Council or brought to its attention .... 1 A. Draft decision recommended by the Commission for adoption by the Council ......... 1 Report of the Commission on Sustainable Development on its ninth session........... 1 B. Matters brought to the attention of the Council................................... 1 Decision 9/1 Energy for sustainable development ........................................... 1 Decision 9/2 Protection of the atmosphere ................................................. 15 Decision 9/3 Transport ................................................................. 19 Decision 9/4 Information for decision-making and participation................................ 24 Decision 9/5 International cooperation for an enabling environment ............................ 27 Decision 9/6 Draft programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 for the Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs .................... 31 Decision 9/7 Documents considered by the Commission at its ninth session ...................... 31 II. Chairman’s summary of the multi-stakeholder dialogue on sustainable energy and transport .. 33 III. Chairman’s summary of the high-level segment ...................................... 45 IV. Sectoral theme: energy .......................................................... 55 V. Sectoral theme: atmosphere ...................................................... 57 VI. Economic sector/major group: transport ............................................ 58 VII. Cross-sectoral theme: information for decision-making and participation ................. 60 VIII. Cross-sectoral theme: international cooperation for an enabling environment .............. 61 IX. High-level meeting ............................................................. 62 X. Other matters .................................................................. 65 XI. Provisional agenda for the tenth session of the Commission ............................ 66 XII. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its ninth session .......................... 67 iii XIII. Organizational and other matters .................................................. 68 A. Opening and duration of the session ........................................... 68 B. Election of officers ......................................................... 68 C. Agenda and organization of work.............................................. 68 D. Attendance ................................................................ 70 E. Documentation............................................................. 70 Annexes I. Attendance .................................................................... 71 II. List of documents before the Commission at its ninth session ........................... 78 iv E/2001/29 E/CN.17/2001/19 Chapter I Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social Council or brought to its attention A. Draft decision recommended by the Commission for adoption by the Council 1. The Commission on Sustainable Development recommends to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft decision: Report of the Commission on Sustainable Development on its ninth session The Economic and Social Council takes note of the report of the Commission on Sustainable Development on its ninth session. B. Matters brought to the attention of the Council 2. The attention of the Council is drawn to the following decisions adopted by the Commission: Decision 9/1 Energy for sustainable development A. General considerations 1. Energy is central to achieving the goals of sustainable development. 2. The magnitude and scale of energy needs facing the world today in relation to sustainable development can be gauged by the fact that nearly one third of the global population of six billion, mostly living in developing countries, continue to lack access to energy and transportation services. Wide disparities in the levels of energy consumption within and between developed and developing countries exist. Current patterns of energy production, distribution and utilization are unsustainable. 3. The challenge ahead will require adequate, predictable, new and additional financial resources, in accordance with chapter 33 of Agenda 21,1 and paragraphs 76 to 87 of the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,2 technology transfer and, where appropriate, political will, as well as commitment to innovative ways of applying energy efficient, environmentally sound, and cost-effective technologies and systems to all sectors of the economy. Energy resources are plentiful, and environmentally sound technological options exist and should be made available and facilitated by developed countries to developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition with a view to making energy for sustainable development a reality. Ensuring adequate and affordable access to energy for present and future generations, in an environmentally sound, socially acceptable and economically viable way, will require considerable efforts and substantial __________________ 1 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3- 14 June 1997, vol. I, Resolutions adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), resolution 1, annex II. 2 General Assembly resolution S-19/3, annex. 1 E/2001/29 E/CN.17/2001/19 investments, including from the private sector. Attention will also need to be given to promoting an enabling environment. 4. In order to make energy systems more supportive of sustainable development objectives, contributions from all stakeholders, as well as increased investments, will be needed. Change will not be driven by resource constraints for a very long time to come. Energy for sustainable development can be achieved by providing universal access to a cost-effective mix of energy resources compatible with different needs and requirements of various countries and regions. This should include giving a greater share of the energy mix to renewable energies, improving energy efficiency and greater reliance on advanced energy technologies, including fossil fuel technologies. Policies relating to energy for sustainable development intended to promote these objectives will address many of the issues of economic and social development as well as facilitate the responsible management of environmental resources. 5. In view of the different contributions to global environmental degradations, States have common but differentiated responsibilities. The choice and implementation of policies to improve the ways to achieve energy for sustainable development basically rest with Governments. However, financial resources play a key role in their implementation. For developing countries, official development assistance (ODA) is a main source of external funding, and substantial new and additional funding for sustainable development and the implementation of Agenda 21 will be required. A participatory approach involving all relevant stakeholders could facilitate progress. Given that energy is an area with strong interdependencies among countries, international cooperation should be promoted in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. The way in which energy issues are addressed in a country depends on the national energy situation and needs. Therefore, a range of options and strategies becomes necessary to address the issues involved. Accordingly, a number of options and strategies that could effect a change in the way energy is dealt with are delineated subsequently. The choice of any specific option would obviously depend on the domestic situation. 6. The Commission underlines the importance of principle 16 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development3 in the context of energy policies, taking fully into account the economic, social and environmental conditions of all countries, in particular of developing countries. B. Issues and options 7. Governments, as well as relevant regional and international organizations and other relevant stakeholders, are invited to consider the issues and options set out below when dealing with energy, taking into account national and regional specificities and circumstances, bearing in mind the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. 8. Foremost in the developing countries’ priorities is the eradication of poverty for the furtherance of sustainable development. Efforts should therefore be made to ensure that energy policies are supportive to developing countries’ efforts to eradicate poverty, with financial assistance, as appropriate. Nevertheless, __________________ 3 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development..., resolution 1, annex I. 2 E/2001/29 E/CN.17/2001/19 environmental standards should not be applied in ways that would hinder these efforts. 9. Governments may seek assistance,